Frankenstein A Hero's Journey Essay

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, there is evidence of a Hero’s Journey. This is shown through the ordinary world, refusal of the call, and meeting the mentor. In Frankenstein, the ordinary world is shown through Geneva and contrasted with the university in Ingolstadt. In
Geneva everything sounds safe and comfortable, and when he gets to Ingolstadt everything suddenly seems to be told in a darker mood. For example, in chapter 3 it mentions how
Frankenstein had always been “surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavouring to bestow mutual pleasure” while living in Geneva. In contrast, on of the first things Shelley mentions when he arrives at Ingolstadt is professor Krempe who is described as a very strict man and says, upon learning Frankenstein was reading outdated books, “every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly and entirely lost.” This shows how, in Geneva,
Frankenstein was protected from

However, in Ingolstadt, he was exposed to the harsh realities of the world and forced to adjust to it. Furthermore, the refusal of the call is evidenced through Frankenstein running away when he first creates the monster in fear. This occurs in chapter 5 when, after awaking the monster, the monster is said to have ‘stretched out one hand, seemingly to detain Frankenstein, but he escaped rushing downstairs’. This exemplifies Frankenstein’s initial fear of the task he must undertake. He seemingly decides running away from his problems would be easier than taking them head on, thus, refusing the call. In addition, Frankenstein meets the mentor. This is shown in chapter 5 when Frankenstein's friend, Henry Clerval, arrives to visit him, and